Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray diagnosed with cancer

Ottawa Senators general manager and president of hockey operations Bryan Murray holds a news conference on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 in Ottawa. Murray has been diagnosed with cancer.The team confirmed the diagnosis Monday in a statement on its website.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

2014-07-07 13:04:00

OTTAWA - Ottawa Senators general manager and president of hockey operations Bryan Murray has been diagnosed with cancer.

The team confirmed the diagnosis Monday in a statement on its website.

"Mr. Murray is undergoing further testing and will begin treatment immediately for this condition as prescribed by the team's doctors in collaboration with specialists," the statement read.

"Mr. Murray's treatment schedule may require him to be away from the Senators office periodically. During his periodic absence, assistant general managers Pierre Dorion and Randy Lee will be responsible for managing the Ottawa Senators hockey operations department.

"On behalf of the entire Senators family, the team is asking that the thoughts, prayers and support of the entire hockey community are with Bryan and his family."

The team said it would not comment further on Murray's illness.

Murray, a 71-year-old native of Shawville, Que., has been with the Senators since June 2004. He spent two full seasons as head coach before replacing the fired John Muckler as GM after guiding Ottawa to the Stanley Cup final in 2007.

Murray, who made a brief return to the bench in 2007-08, previously served as a head coach in Washington, Detroit, Florida and Anaheim. He won the Jack Adams award as coach of the year in 1984 with the Capitals and was general manager of the Florida team that advanced to the Cup final in 1996.

Murray, who also has 20 seasons of front-office experience, began his NHL coaching career with Washington in November 1981 and spent over eight seasons with the Capitals. In 18 seasons as a coach, he has recorded 620 wins over 1,239 games.

Murray spent four years as athletic director and coach at McGill University. He also coached five years in the Central Junior Hockey League with Pembroke and Rockland before becoming head coach of the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats.

He guided the Pats to a WHL title in 1980 before taking over as coach of the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears the following season.